Wooden Necktie (and Bowtie)

Make a stylish necktie and bow tie with alternative material: wood!

The Windsor knot will no longer be a problem.

_{As it requires some (nylon) thread and a needle, will it be entitled to enter the Summer Sewing Contest?}

Do you like it?
Vote for me:
- in the dadcando family fun contest! (click vote now on top of page; see also my other entry)
- and in the summer sewing contest!
Thanks!

Step 1 Needed Stuff

Skills:

• Moderate woodworking skills
• Patience

Materials:

• A piece of soft wood (e.g. pine) of size suiting your design (see next step) plus much margin. Choose a wood grain that you like.
• Nylon string, "quite robust" (0.5 mm)
• Some pieces of flat scrap plastic (e.g. the cap of a PVC box) that is easy to cut and drill
• Elastic string

Tools:

• Saw and miter box; a jigsaw is also helpful
• Wood files
• Sand paper (coarse to fine) and sand block
• 1.5 mm drill bit; drill (at best, a drill press)
• A sewing needle

Other:

• Linseed oil
• Wood stain

Comments

[petuljak]

And the point of the wooden necktie is?

[nerdfighter73]

What is the point of any necktie? Because it looks cool!

[dawcee]

questioning the point of a wooden necktie is like questioning the point of Instructables itself. (btw the answer is: it's immensely satisfying to come up with and execute fun and unique projects)

[michael lively]

and also it is a fashion statement, you don't know how many times I have gotten complements on my 8-bit tie.
it gets boring after a while, it is like spicing up a love life, but it is done with ties.

[benthekahn]

This inspired me to make a perforated metal tie for my dad for fathers day. He loved it, thanks for the inspiration!

[Wasagi]

Fantastic! I'm off to make one now.

[Fuingurth]

What kind of wood did you use for this?

[laxap]

Necktie and bowtie: pine.

The bowtie has been stained, hence got darker.

[mrbob1000]

This would be the greatest thing to wear to prom.

[falwyn]

To match your date's wooden dress! Just kidding, I actually agree. This is an awesome project.

[tealight]

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=275065.0 wooden dress

[your dog]

What responces have you got from this when you wore it? did they like it? (I did) :)

[Chris Nelson]

Would you be willing to sell one of these ties good sir? I love to wear ties, and the double windsor knot style, but I most certainly do not have the time required to make one of these.

[laxap]

mmh you'd have to be very very very patient, and PM me sometimes... Anyway, you'll have to do step 2 (your design) yourself anyway, so why not start immediately ;-) ?

[twighahn]

what hold the bowtie together?

[laxap]

See 1st picture of step 4. I might additionally add a global schematic.

[twighahn]

what is that thing?

[laxap]

the tie pieces holds together by means of a nylon thread (well, two threads) crossing the pieces. The pieces can slightly slide on the thread. Gravity and the elastic string give the tension to keep the wood pieces together. The said picture shows how the nylon threads cross and join the pieces.

[twighahn]

u called it a fabric band

[twighahn]

on the bow tie?

[laxap]

Oh, you're talking about the bowtie.

Yes, fabric band glued.

[karossii]

Very interesting, I may make one of these myself! I'd recommend to drill all the way through the bottom piece of the tie, but at a slight angle, so the holes are coming out of the middle of its back, instead of the bottom. Then you can use one long strand of nylon without glue, instead of two strands glued in place. Not sure how aptly I described that... hopefully you understand my meaning.

[laxap]

Yes I see. But I wanted to have a clean backside too, making in more difficult to guess how it works...

[karossii]

Another alternative then, to leave a clean backside, would be to drill straight down as you do, then drill a perpendicular hole about halfway down, at the base of the two vertical holes... making a 'U' - and then use wood filler to plug the two holes on the side. Once sanded and finished, you shouldn't be able to see any difference between the filler and the actual wood.

[laxap]

Might be difficult to align precisely, then to have the nylon follow the wanted path...

Is it the usage of glue that revolts you, if I may ask?

Another possibility is to do like in your first comment, then hide the holes+nylon, on the backside, by a custom-made fabric label (like real ties have). That would add a touch of distinction.

[karossii]

Glue doesn't revolt me, it just seems less sturdy/permanent to use glue like that...

[Stealth007]

I actually made one about 30 years ago. I stopped wearing it because it was so stiff and hard that people called it my woody. I also made a 'tie clip' out of a flat washer. I ground it out to appear like a saw blade. Overall, it looked pretty good, IMHO.

[projectbronco]

Very awesome, I would love to make one someday!

[Verga]

I teach High school shop, i can't believe tqhat i didn't think of this myself. adding this to the faves Thanks for a great project.

[IBreakHeavyStuff]

Fantabulous. I want to wear ties so I can wear something like this. I don't do woodwork though but this would make a fantastic present for someone =).

[patricklogsdon]

All these creative thinkers spurred me to an idea to also make a wooden tie tack...like a little woooden pinapple or something like that...lol, just thinking outloud! GREAT instructabler!!! I love this site.

[tdeloge]

This is cool, but I don't get what you mean by "sewing" them together. The nylon strings don't just run striaght up through the holes in each piece?

[canida]

This is brilliant!
You could run some flexible wire for the length instead, for the optional Dilbert look.

[David Catriel]

Very nice twist (pun intended) !

[laxap]

Dilbert look! never thought of it, great idea!

[john henry]

i want one, no two i like shiny red wood finish ^_^

[trueheart7a3]

I think this would defeat the danger...if you work in an office...of getting too close to the paper shredder.

[Faith Rhyne]

I just saw that you have an interest in sewing. This is a super easy project that teaches a lot of basic skills and doesn't require a machine. It basically just a bandanna with a bit of elastic and a fastening device. Super handy for families. I wanted to submit it as an instructable, but I have some issues with presenting my work in a clear way. It is something I am working on. Thanks. If you ever 'instructable-ify" this, let me know - I'd like to see it:)

[Ward_Nox]

um how about you step my step take photos of you making one an go from there

[laxap]

Thanks a lot.

You have very nice drawing skills! What about making an instructable in the form of a cartoon? (Do you know howtoons?)

Small piece of advice: You could add some shading for more volume effect, and a picture of the finished product.

If I make one (for my kids) I'll let you know.